Elizabeth Ahmann | Maryland University of Integrative Health (original) (raw)
Papers by Elizabeth Ahmann
PubMed, May 25, 2002
An increasing number of health care consumers are using the Internet for health-related research ... more An increasing number of health care consumers are using the Internet for health-related research through Web sites, newsgroups, chat rooms, and listserves. This use of the Internet can be empowering for consumers. It encourages both collaboration and a family-centered approach to care and could contribute to improved outcomes and cost savings. At the same time, care and caution are needed regarding interpretation of health-related information obtained on the Internet. Nurses can help consumers become Internet savvy and learn ways to evaluate the likelihood that information they find on the Internet is from a reputable site. First, health care consumers using the Web should be encouraged to be skeptical and to approach Internet health research with a clear list of questions that can be used to evaluate Internet sites. Second, several on-line "site-checkers" can be applied to achieve a similar evaluation. A third approach is to look for the emblem of the Health on the Net Foundation's voluntary Code of Conduct (HONCode) for medical and health Web sites. Finally, open, collaborative relationships among health care consumers, families, and health care providers will encourage a discussion of the relevance and applicability of an individual's Internet research findings to the medical or nursing care plan.
PubMed, Apr 2, 2013
The Family Matters series focuses on issues, information, and strategies relevant to working with... more The Family Matters series focuses on issues, information, and strategies relevant to working with families of pediatric patients. To suggest topics, obtain author guidelines, or to submit queries or manuscripts, contact Elizabeth Ahmann, ScD, RN; Series Editor;
PubMed, May 1, 1995
Understanding and implementing family-centered care becomes easier as nurses are exposed to both ... more Understanding and implementing family-centered care becomes easier as nurses are exposed to both the concept and examples of the concept in practice. An annotated bibliography of articles, books, films, training materials, and newsletters will be useful to individual nurses, nurse-educators, and nurse administrators.
PubMed, Oct 26, 1999
When we work with families in health care settings, it is important to be aware of the way we com... more When we work with families in health care settings, it is important to be aware of the way we communicate. Often overlooked is how the language we use to describe and understand families affects how we work with them. The language we use in thinking about a family can shape our perceptions of the family and may affect how we approach working with them. The language we use in describing a family to another health care provider can affect how that person will perceive and approach the family. The language families hear us use can affect families' perceptions of themselves, their perceptions of us, and, consequently, how they relate to us. In Project Copernicus' Family Centered Communication Skills: Facilitator's Guide (Edelman, Greenland, & Mills, 1993), an activity entitled "Watch Our Language" explores commonly used negative terminology about families and guidelines for better language. This exercise has been used with groups of nurses and other health care providers at several conferences and has generated thoughtful brainstorming about negative language related to families, its impact on families, and its impact on the nurses working with them. Those participating in the workshops explored better terminology about families and brainstormed a list of selected family strengths which are shared here.
PubMed, 1994
The concept of family-centered care was first introduced in 1987. Since that time, legislation ha... more The concept of family-centered care was first introduced in 1987. Since that time, legislation has mandated its implementation, training materials have been developed, and it has come to be considered "best practice." It is time now for pediatric nurses to learn strategies for implementation of family-centered care.
PubMed, Jul 1, 1993
As part of a comprehensive study on the impact of home apnea monitoring on family functioning, we... more As part of a comprehensive study on the impact of home apnea monitoring on family functioning, we undertook an in-depth analysis of risk factors for poor family functioning in 93 families of monitored infants. A multistep correlation and regression analysis was used to examine the ability of 16 demographic, infant, family, and monitor-related variables to predict poor functioning in each of 12 different aspects of family life. Of note was the fact that monitor-related variables failed to be important predictors of poor family functioning. Rather, previous family problems and low satisfaction with social support were the most broad and powerful predictors of poor functioning. To enhance the capabilities of families to manage the added responsibility of home monitoring, clinicians might wisely assess both of these aspects of family life and then target extra support services to families identified to be at risk in these areas.
PubMed, May 2, 2015
Due to advances in medicine, many young adults with complex chronic conditions are now able.to re... more Due to advances in medicine, many young adults with complex chronic conditions are now able.to reach the age when they must transition from pediatric to adult care. But preparation for these transitions is often inadequate--for patients and their families, as well as for adult providers. As a result, many needs (clinical, psychosocial, and educational) may not be met, and patients and their families may feel uncertain about the quality of care. This article is the first in a series addressing this critical issue by providing insights from patients and families who have experienced transitions, as well as information about programs and available resources. In this article two parents and one young adult patient share their stories of transitioning, identify the numerous challenges they faced, and suggest strategies to improve the health care system for other patients and families.
PubMed, Sep 10, 2003
Nurses can play an important role as effective change agents in helping health care agencies and ... more Nurses can play an important role as effective change agents in helping health care agencies and institutions recognize the need to move to more family-centered models, understand the benefits of a family-centered approach, and develop strategies for implementing family-centered care. The Institute for Family-Centered Care has identified a number of areas in which many institutions wish to make changes and has been developing guidance materials that explore possibilities, highlight hospitals that have incorporated changes, and provide practical strategies and useful materials to facilitate change. Topics covered in these guidance resources include the following: Developing Family-Centered Vision, Mission, and Philosophy of Care Statements; Developing and Sustaining a Patient and Family Advisory Council; Collaborative Design Planning; Creating Children's Advisory Councils; Creating and Enhancing Patient and Family Resource Centers; Creating Patient and Family Faculty Programs; Working with Seniors and their Families to Enhance Geriatric Care; and Changing Visiting Practices--Families as Partners.
PubMed, Dec 2, 1998
Family-centered care is increasingly considered "best practice." Yet, recent research points to a... more Family-centered care is increasingly considered "best practice." Yet, recent research points to a discrepancy between philosophy and practice (Bruce & Ritchie, 1997). To make family-centered care a full reality will require the examination of the assumptions underlying the practice of individual health care providers, agencies, and institutions. Typical models underling the provision of health care today include the medical model, the child-focused model, the family-focused model, and the family-centered model. Understanding the assumptions of each of these models is important. Identifying them in practice will require a process of reflection. Once assumptions underlying the current practice of an individual or institution are made conscious, assumptions that interfere with family-centered practices can be identified.
Children's Health Care, Sep 1, 1983
This article explores children's theorizing around risk and safety in relation to the public/priv... more This article explores children's theorizing around risk and safety in relation to the public/private distinction. While there has been considerable debate within sociology over the different meanings and applications of the public/private dichotomy, little consideration has been given to the ways in which children construct their lives around this distinction. In this article it is argued that children reflexively construct their landscapes of risk and safety around concepts of private, local and public. While the private sphere of the home was described by the children in terms of safety and security, they expressed concerns about their vulnerability in public life. The children's accounts also define an intermediate sphere between private and publicthe local sphere-which was identified in terms of proximity to the home and familiarity with places and people.
Pediatric nursing
Family-centered care is increasingly considered "best practice." Yet, recent research p... more Family-centered care is increasingly considered "best practice." Yet, recent research points to a discrepancy between philosophy and practice (Bruce & Ritchie, 1997). To make family-centered care a full reality will require the examination of the assumptions underlying the practice of individual health care providers, agencies, and institutions. Typical models underling the provision of health care today include the medical model, the child-focused model, the family-focused model, and the family-centered model. Understanding the assumptions of each of these models is important. Identifying them in practice will require a process of reflection. Once assumptions underlying the current practice of an individual or institution are made conscious, assumptions that interfere with family-centered practices can be identified.
Pediatric nursing
To determine the clinical applicability of research findings related to home apnea monitoring. A ... more To determine the clinical applicability of research findings related to home apnea monitoring. A critical review of descriptive and explanatory research on family impact of home apnea monitoring. Strengths and limitations of the research are identified. Clinical practice implications of the research findings are discussed.
Page 1. y T F 0 R » i THE i I A FAMILY-CENTERED APPROACH econd Edireion Eli Ahmann Page 2. i Pag... more Page 1. y T F 0 R » i THE i I A FAMILY-CENTERED APPROACH econd Edireion Eli Ahmann Page 2. i Page 3. Page 4. Page 5. HOME CARE High-Risk Infant A FAMILY-CENTERED APPROACH Second Edition Elizabeth Ahmann ...
Children's Health Care, 1986
With an increasing emphasis on home care, more and more children with severe disabilities and chr... more With an increasing emphasis on home care, more and more children with severe disabilities and chronic-acute health impairments will be cared for at home. Care of these children places great financial, physical, and emotional strains on families. Adequate support for families is essential to prevent costly rehospitalization, foster placement, or worse. Respite care is a supportive service that is an important part of every effective plan for home care. This bibliography offers annotations on a range of materials directly addressing or closely related to the topic of respite care for children and families. The bibliography will be useful for the reader searching for general material on the topic as well as the reader interested in specific aspects of respite care, including family perceptions, program models, funding issues, and training. Annotations on articles, reports, books, and some government materials are provided. Additionally, a listing of training materials, and where they can be obtained, is provided without annotations after the bibliography.
PubMed, Nov 14, 1997
A child's disability or acute or chronic illness has an effect on all family members, including s... more A child's disability or acute or chronic illness has an effect on all family members, including siblings of the affected child. Children's books, fiction and non-fiction, can be used to support siblings by providing information, addressing feelings, offering insight, assuring the child that others have had similar problems, and facilitating coping. Nurses can introduce children and their families to useful books by having books or book covers on display that the child can choose from; providing families with lists of books; and/or assessing the child's needs, interests and reading level, and recommending a specific title.
PubMed, Apr 25, 2014
Conventional parenting approaches often fall short of the mark for children who exhibit difficult... more Conventional parenting approaches often fall short of the mark for children who exhibit difficult behavior, sometimes inadvertently leading to increased oppositionality and poor self-esteem. As a result, parents of children with intense personalities and challenging behaviors need strategies that work very differently. The Nurtured Heart Approach is a philosophy/technique developed to help parents rewrite the often negative parenting scripts used with these children by limiting the amount of attention given to negative or undesirable behaviors while noticing and acknowledging even small positive behaviors, naming them, "energizing" attention given to them, and valuing their occurrence. Although there has been very limited empirical study of the Nurtured Heart Approach to date, it has been used, with anecdotal reports of success, in a variety of settings, including Head Start programs, schools, foster care agencies, a treatment center, and a pre-adolescent diversion program (Glasser, 2000).
PubMed, Feb 7, 2018
Over 400,000 children are in foster care in the United States, and more than 100,000 of them are ... more Over 400,000 children are in foster care in the United States, and more than 100,000 of them are waiting to be adopted. Yet many will age out of foster care into adulthood without an adoptive family. Teens and young adults aging out of foster care, even those with preparation and training for the transition, often do not fare well in young adulthood. Many face challenges in areas of education, employment, homelessness, finances, the criminal justice system, and meeting health and mental healthcare needs. Research demonstrates what only makes sense: teens with tangible support from meaningful adult relationships fare better than those without. This article describes an innovative program that connects teens in foster care with supportive adults through social events that can lead to meaningful long-term teen-adult connections - including friendships, mentoring, and even, in some cases, adoption. Pediatric nurses, aware of the challenges these teens face adjusting to adulthood, can begin to explore referral and support options for such teens in their own locales using the resources herein.
PubMed, May 25, 2002
Families in which one or both parents are gay or lesbian are becoming increasingly common as soci... more Families in which one or both parents are gay or lesbian are becoming increasingly common as social acceptance of this lifestyle increases and legal barriers slowly erode. Despite past concerns and occasional reports to the contrary, the bulk of research has shown no evidence that children of parents who are gay or lesbian suffer any greater physical or mental pathology than children of heterosexual parents. However, research does suggest that there may be ways in which health care providers can be more respectful and supportive of homosexual parents and their families. Health care providers should examine their own attitudes toward these families and consider how to provide a welcoming environment and presence. Using gender neutral language about spouses, displaying posters and publications related to varied family types, and acknowledging both parents as participants in care are some examples. Health care providers who are aware of the special concerns these parents and their children may have, including stigmatization, the issue of disclosure, teasing, feeling different, and the stress resulting from challenges faced due to anti-homosexual social attitudes, can demonstrate sensitivity to the involved children and provide families with anticipatory guidance, support, suggested reading material, and referrals to appropriate organizations.
PubMed, May 25, 2002
An increasing number of health care consumers are using the Internet for health-related research ... more An increasing number of health care consumers are using the Internet for health-related research through Web sites, newsgroups, chat rooms, and listserves. This use of the Internet can be empowering for consumers. It encourages both collaboration and a family-centered approach to care and could contribute to improved outcomes and cost savings. At the same time, care and caution are needed regarding interpretation of health-related information obtained on the Internet. Nurses can help consumers become Internet savvy and learn ways to evaluate the likelihood that information they find on the Internet is from a reputable site. First, health care consumers using the Web should be encouraged to be skeptical and to approach Internet health research with a clear list of questions that can be used to evaluate Internet sites. Second, several on-line "site-checkers" can be applied to achieve a similar evaluation. A third approach is to look for the emblem of the Health on the Net Foundation's voluntary Code of Conduct (HONCode) for medical and health Web sites. Finally, open, collaborative relationships among health care consumers, families, and health care providers will encourage a discussion of the relevance and applicability of an individual's Internet research findings to the medical or nursing care plan.
PubMed, Apr 2, 2013
The Family Matters series focuses on issues, information, and strategies relevant to working with... more The Family Matters series focuses on issues, information, and strategies relevant to working with families of pediatric patients. To suggest topics, obtain author guidelines, or to submit queries or manuscripts, contact Elizabeth Ahmann, ScD, RN; Series Editor;
PubMed, May 1, 1995
Understanding and implementing family-centered care becomes easier as nurses are exposed to both ... more Understanding and implementing family-centered care becomes easier as nurses are exposed to both the concept and examples of the concept in practice. An annotated bibliography of articles, books, films, training materials, and newsletters will be useful to individual nurses, nurse-educators, and nurse administrators.
PubMed, Oct 26, 1999
When we work with families in health care settings, it is important to be aware of the way we com... more When we work with families in health care settings, it is important to be aware of the way we communicate. Often overlooked is how the language we use to describe and understand families affects how we work with them. The language we use in thinking about a family can shape our perceptions of the family and may affect how we approach working with them. The language we use in describing a family to another health care provider can affect how that person will perceive and approach the family. The language families hear us use can affect families' perceptions of themselves, their perceptions of us, and, consequently, how they relate to us. In Project Copernicus' Family Centered Communication Skills: Facilitator's Guide (Edelman, Greenland, & Mills, 1993), an activity entitled "Watch Our Language" explores commonly used negative terminology about families and guidelines for better language. This exercise has been used with groups of nurses and other health care providers at several conferences and has generated thoughtful brainstorming about negative language related to families, its impact on families, and its impact on the nurses working with them. Those participating in the workshops explored better terminology about families and brainstormed a list of selected family strengths which are shared here.
PubMed, 1994
The concept of family-centered care was first introduced in 1987. Since that time, legislation ha... more The concept of family-centered care was first introduced in 1987. Since that time, legislation has mandated its implementation, training materials have been developed, and it has come to be considered "best practice." It is time now for pediatric nurses to learn strategies for implementation of family-centered care.
PubMed, Jul 1, 1993
As part of a comprehensive study on the impact of home apnea monitoring on family functioning, we... more As part of a comprehensive study on the impact of home apnea monitoring on family functioning, we undertook an in-depth analysis of risk factors for poor family functioning in 93 families of monitored infants. A multistep correlation and regression analysis was used to examine the ability of 16 demographic, infant, family, and monitor-related variables to predict poor functioning in each of 12 different aspects of family life. Of note was the fact that monitor-related variables failed to be important predictors of poor family functioning. Rather, previous family problems and low satisfaction with social support were the most broad and powerful predictors of poor functioning. To enhance the capabilities of families to manage the added responsibility of home monitoring, clinicians might wisely assess both of these aspects of family life and then target extra support services to families identified to be at risk in these areas.
PubMed, May 2, 2015
Due to advances in medicine, many young adults with complex chronic conditions are now able.to re... more Due to advances in medicine, many young adults with complex chronic conditions are now able.to reach the age when they must transition from pediatric to adult care. But preparation for these transitions is often inadequate--for patients and their families, as well as for adult providers. As a result, many needs (clinical, psychosocial, and educational) may not be met, and patients and their families may feel uncertain about the quality of care. This article is the first in a series addressing this critical issue by providing insights from patients and families who have experienced transitions, as well as information about programs and available resources. In this article two parents and one young adult patient share their stories of transitioning, identify the numerous challenges they faced, and suggest strategies to improve the health care system for other patients and families.
PubMed, Sep 10, 2003
Nurses can play an important role as effective change agents in helping health care agencies and ... more Nurses can play an important role as effective change agents in helping health care agencies and institutions recognize the need to move to more family-centered models, understand the benefits of a family-centered approach, and develop strategies for implementing family-centered care. The Institute for Family-Centered Care has identified a number of areas in which many institutions wish to make changes and has been developing guidance materials that explore possibilities, highlight hospitals that have incorporated changes, and provide practical strategies and useful materials to facilitate change. Topics covered in these guidance resources include the following: Developing Family-Centered Vision, Mission, and Philosophy of Care Statements; Developing and Sustaining a Patient and Family Advisory Council; Collaborative Design Planning; Creating Children's Advisory Councils; Creating and Enhancing Patient and Family Resource Centers; Creating Patient and Family Faculty Programs; Working with Seniors and their Families to Enhance Geriatric Care; and Changing Visiting Practices--Families as Partners.
PubMed, Dec 2, 1998
Family-centered care is increasingly considered "best practice." Yet, recent research points to a... more Family-centered care is increasingly considered "best practice." Yet, recent research points to a discrepancy between philosophy and practice (Bruce & Ritchie, 1997). To make family-centered care a full reality will require the examination of the assumptions underlying the practice of individual health care providers, agencies, and institutions. Typical models underling the provision of health care today include the medical model, the child-focused model, the family-focused model, and the family-centered model. Understanding the assumptions of each of these models is important. Identifying them in practice will require a process of reflection. Once assumptions underlying the current practice of an individual or institution are made conscious, assumptions that interfere with family-centered practices can be identified.
Children's Health Care, Sep 1, 1983
This article explores children's theorizing around risk and safety in relation to the public/priv... more This article explores children's theorizing around risk and safety in relation to the public/private distinction. While there has been considerable debate within sociology over the different meanings and applications of the public/private dichotomy, little consideration has been given to the ways in which children construct their lives around this distinction. In this article it is argued that children reflexively construct their landscapes of risk and safety around concepts of private, local and public. While the private sphere of the home was described by the children in terms of safety and security, they expressed concerns about their vulnerability in public life. The children's accounts also define an intermediate sphere between private and publicthe local sphere-which was identified in terms of proximity to the home and familiarity with places and people.
Pediatric nursing
Family-centered care is increasingly considered "best practice." Yet, recent research p... more Family-centered care is increasingly considered "best practice." Yet, recent research points to a discrepancy between philosophy and practice (Bruce & Ritchie, 1997). To make family-centered care a full reality will require the examination of the assumptions underlying the practice of individual health care providers, agencies, and institutions. Typical models underling the provision of health care today include the medical model, the child-focused model, the family-focused model, and the family-centered model. Understanding the assumptions of each of these models is important. Identifying them in practice will require a process of reflection. Once assumptions underlying the current practice of an individual or institution are made conscious, assumptions that interfere with family-centered practices can be identified.
Pediatric nursing
To determine the clinical applicability of research findings related to home apnea monitoring. A ... more To determine the clinical applicability of research findings related to home apnea monitoring. A critical review of descriptive and explanatory research on family impact of home apnea monitoring. Strengths and limitations of the research are identified. Clinical practice implications of the research findings are discussed.
Page 1. y T F 0 R » i THE i I A FAMILY-CENTERED APPROACH econd Edireion Eli Ahmann Page 2. i Pag... more Page 1. y T F 0 R » i THE i I A FAMILY-CENTERED APPROACH econd Edireion Eli Ahmann Page 2. i Page 3. Page 4. Page 5. HOME CARE High-Risk Infant A FAMILY-CENTERED APPROACH Second Edition Elizabeth Ahmann ...
Children's Health Care, 1986
With an increasing emphasis on home care, more and more children with severe disabilities and chr... more With an increasing emphasis on home care, more and more children with severe disabilities and chronic-acute health impairments will be cared for at home. Care of these children places great financial, physical, and emotional strains on families. Adequate support for families is essential to prevent costly rehospitalization, foster placement, or worse. Respite care is a supportive service that is an important part of every effective plan for home care. This bibliography offers annotations on a range of materials directly addressing or closely related to the topic of respite care for children and families. The bibliography will be useful for the reader searching for general material on the topic as well as the reader interested in specific aspects of respite care, including family perceptions, program models, funding issues, and training. Annotations on articles, reports, books, and some government materials are provided. Additionally, a listing of training materials, and where they can be obtained, is provided without annotations after the bibliography.
PubMed, Nov 14, 1997
A child's disability or acute or chronic illness has an effect on all family members, including s... more A child's disability or acute or chronic illness has an effect on all family members, including siblings of the affected child. Children's books, fiction and non-fiction, can be used to support siblings by providing information, addressing feelings, offering insight, assuring the child that others have had similar problems, and facilitating coping. Nurses can introduce children and their families to useful books by having books or book covers on display that the child can choose from; providing families with lists of books; and/or assessing the child's needs, interests and reading level, and recommending a specific title.
PubMed, Apr 25, 2014
Conventional parenting approaches often fall short of the mark for children who exhibit difficult... more Conventional parenting approaches often fall short of the mark for children who exhibit difficult behavior, sometimes inadvertently leading to increased oppositionality and poor self-esteem. As a result, parents of children with intense personalities and challenging behaviors need strategies that work very differently. The Nurtured Heart Approach is a philosophy/technique developed to help parents rewrite the often negative parenting scripts used with these children by limiting the amount of attention given to negative or undesirable behaviors while noticing and acknowledging even small positive behaviors, naming them, "energizing" attention given to them, and valuing their occurrence. Although there has been very limited empirical study of the Nurtured Heart Approach to date, it has been used, with anecdotal reports of success, in a variety of settings, including Head Start programs, schools, foster care agencies, a treatment center, and a pre-adolescent diversion program (Glasser, 2000).
PubMed, Feb 7, 2018
Over 400,000 children are in foster care in the United States, and more than 100,000 of them are ... more Over 400,000 children are in foster care in the United States, and more than 100,000 of them are waiting to be adopted. Yet many will age out of foster care into adulthood without an adoptive family. Teens and young adults aging out of foster care, even those with preparation and training for the transition, often do not fare well in young adulthood. Many face challenges in areas of education, employment, homelessness, finances, the criminal justice system, and meeting health and mental healthcare needs. Research demonstrates what only makes sense: teens with tangible support from meaningful adult relationships fare better than those without. This article describes an innovative program that connects teens in foster care with supportive adults through social events that can lead to meaningful long-term teen-adult connections - including friendships, mentoring, and even, in some cases, adoption. Pediatric nurses, aware of the challenges these teens face adjusting to adulthood, can begin to explore referral and support options for such teens in their own locales using the resources herein.
PubMed, May 25, 2002
Families in which one or both parents are gay or lesbian are becoming increasingly common as soci... more Families in which one or both parents are gay or lesbian are becoming increasingly common as social acceptance of this lifestyle increases and legal barriers slowly erode. Despite past concerns and occasional reports to the contrary, the bulk of research has shown no evidence that children of parents who are gay or lesbian suffer any greater physical or mental pathology than children of heterosexual parents. However, research does suggest that there may be ways in which health care providers can be more respectful and supportive of homosexual parents and their families. Health care providers should examine their own attitudes toward these families and consider how to provide a welcoming environment and presence. Using gender neutral language about spouses, displaying posters and publications related to varied family types, and acknowledging both parents as participants in care are some examples. Health care providers who are aware of the special concerns these parents and their children may have, including stigmatization, the issue of disclosure, teasing, feeling different, and the stress resulting from challenges faced due to anti-homosexual social attitudes, can demonstrate sensitivity to the involved children and provide families with anticipatory guidance, support, suggested reading material, and referrals to appropriate organizations.